NHRC notice over Indians in Bangladesh denied basic amenities

New Delhi: The NHRC has issued notice to the home and external affairs ministries as well as the West Bengal and Assam governments asking them to inquire into a complaint that Indians residing in Bangladesh were being denied basic amenities.

According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), about 30,000 residents of Indian enclaves in Bangladesh have not been included in the census for land compensation while women were being abducted and sexually exploited.

The NHRC issued notice to the secretaries of the home and external affairs ministries, chief secretaries of West Bengal and Assam and district magistrates of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, asking them to submit a detailed report on the matter within four weeks.

The commission noted that both the governments agreed to facilitate orderly, safe and secure passage of the residents of enclaves to the mainland of India or Bangladesh, including provision of travel documents.

"Therefore, these incidents amount to violation of not only human rights but also the agreement between the two nations," the NHRC said.